Jay Rodriguez "motivated" to return to action following injury blow

Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez has insisted that he is full of motivation to return to action after missing out on an England World Cup place due to injury.

The 24-year-old was tipped to be included in Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad in Brazil, but his hopes were dashed after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in April.

"I'm motivated to get back," Rodriguez told BBC Radio Solent. "I'm a great believer in everything happens for a reason. In the long run I'll look back at this and see it as a testing but also character building time."

Rodriguez earned his first call-up to the Three Lions squad in November last year.